Swimming appliance.



N0.v 636,364. Patented Nov. 7, |899.

J. suus.

SWIMMING APPLIANGE.

(Applicaion led Feb. 25, 1899.) (No Nudel.)v

MM WMM fIo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB STAUB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWIMMING APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 636,364, datedNovember 7, 1899. Application iiled February 25, 1899. Serial No.706,78-7. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB STAUB, av citizen of the Republic ofSwitzerland, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwimmingDevices,of which the following is a specification. .l

My improvements relate especially to a shoe to be worn by the swimmer tofacilitate the propulsion of his body through the water. The especialobject of my invention is to provide an attachment for an ordinaryswimming shoe or slipper which will expand upon the backward stroke orkick of the user and collapse when the foot is brought forward.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom planview, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line a; of Fig.2.

In the drawings I have shown a slipper of common form made up of thesole a, a front section of the upper b, and the rear orl heel section c.The material of which the slipper is constructed is preferably canvaswith a cork sole. Attached to the'slipper at the toe b and at the upperedge c of the heel portion is an oval-shaped piece d, which is out awayat d' to permit the entrance of the foot. This piece d is preferablymade of canvas, though rubber or silk or other suitable material may beemployed. On the under side of the piece d, at a point about half-waybetween the toe and heel of the slipper and on either side of theinstep, are secured spoonshaped pieces of wood c, the concave portionsof which are at the outer edges of the piece d. These pieces are securedto the piece d by stitches which pass through suitable perforationstherein or may be attached in any other suitable manner. Secured atthecenter of the pieces e are ieXible stays f, the opposite end of which isattached to the edge of the sole of the slipper ata point under theinstep. These stays are of sufficient length to permit the expansion ofthe piece d until it reaches an angleapproximately forty-five degrees tothe vertical plane of the slipper. At the rear corners d2 of the sectiond are secured exible stays g, the opposite ends of which are secured tothe extreme rear edge of the sole a. These stays are of sufficientlength to permit a partial expansion of the a less eigtent than ispermitted piece d, but to piece d at the front by the stays f. Both thestays f and g may be made adjustable, so that they may be taken in orlet out, according to the desire of the wearer.

It will'be noted that the portion of the edge of the piece d which isdirectly overv the instep and extending backwardly therefrom a shortdistance is free or unattached to the slipper. This construction permitsthe passage of the water between the foot and the piece d on thebackward stroke of the swimmer. It will also be noted that the length ofthe spoon-shaped pieces e is almost equal to the distance between theupperedge and the lower edge of the piece d, and thus form areinforcement and shape-retaining means for this portion of the piece d.By securing the or toe of the slipper and at the heel and at the instepin the manner described I support the piece at the points which securethe best results in maintaining a regular or uniform spread of saidpiece. It will also be noted that by maintaining the spoon-shaped piecese at approximately an angle of forty-live degrees I obtain a sufficientresistance to the water, and thus promote the forward movement of theswimmer.

It will be apparent that my device does not require any specialconstruction of slipper, but may be applied to the forms in common use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a swimming device, the combination with aA shoe or slipper, of apiece of flexible material adapted to cover the foot part, and securedto the toe and heel of the shoe or slipper, and pro vided with iexiblestays,and with braces secured to said stays, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose specified.

2.. In a swimming device of the character described, a piece of textilefabric secured to the toe and heel of a swimming shoe or slipper, andprovided with braces concave on their under side, and stays for securingsaid braces and said piece of fabric to the sole of a shoe or slipper,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB STAUB.

Witnesses:

L. HANKE, G. S. NOBLE.

IOO

